Rosabel Choi

Pianist Rosabel Choi’s approach to the study of music is enriched by a broad educational background, and she maintains a versatile interest in writing, composition, and literature. Her musical exploration gathers the elements of her music background, which reflect the many cultural streams that resonate deeply within. From hiphop to minimalism to tango and Bach, Rosabel’s work is constantly in search of relevance in creating unexpected ways to communicate to audiences.

During studies in Oberlin and Calgary, she received numerous top awards, including the Dean’s Talent award, Rudolph Serkin scholarship, Austrian-Canadian Mozart Competition, Kiwanis Rose Bowl, University of Calgary Open Scholarship, and the Roslyn McCowan Award. Performing extensively as a soloist and chamber musician, she recently performed in tours of the Toronto, Montréal, Baltimore and San Francisco areas. She is the pianist in the Mash Potangos, a tango ensemble that formed at the Banff Centre, and has since given acclaimed performances in concert halls, traditional tango balls, jazz clubs, loft spaces, bars and cafés across the continent. With the Mash Potangos, she enjoys arranging, writing, transcribing and teaching music; they use tango as a vehicle to direct projects such as a week-long workshop for the OrchKids, an El Sistema-inspired program for Baltimore youth.

Rosabel received her Doctorate of Musical Arts from Arizona State University (ASU), studying piano with Dr. Kwang-Wu Kim. This summer she was selected to present her doctoral paper at the College Music Society conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina. As guest faculty, Rosabel has taught masterclasses at the University of Alberta, ASU, and the Peabody Institute of John Hopkins. She has been awarded grants and scholarships from organizations such as the Banff Centre, ASU, Atlantic Center for the Arts, Anne Burrows Music Foundation, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, and the Canada Council for the Arts.